For Children

Doctors may need to perform a variety of medical tests and procedures to learn more about your child's cancer and to provide the best treatment. Anticipating and having these procedures often is a major source of anxiety and stress for both children and parents. Fortunately, much of the anxiety surrounding procedures can be reduced by carefully preparing you and your child.

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for developing late effects, which are side effects that occur more than five years after treatment. These can result from both the cancer itself and the cancer treatment. Because more than 80% of children treated for cancer survive five years or more after treatment and are presumably cured, preventing and recognizing both physical and emotional late effects is an important part of cancer care.

Late effects are side effects of treatment that occur five or more years after treatment. Not all children treated for cancer will experience late effects, but it helps to learn about the possible late effects your child may experience, how the health care team will help manage, treat, and/or prevent late effects, and questions to ask the health care team.

Find additional resources that provide more information for children with cancer and their families.

Information for School Professionals

Children in classrooms across the country are likely dealing with cancer right now, whether with a grandparent, parent, or teacher. LIVESTRONG at School offers free online lessons to help teach students about cancer in a way that is age-appropriate, hopeful, inspiring and empowering. Lessons include national standards, clear learning objectives, engaging videos, extension activities, a check for understanding and ways that students can get involved in the fight against cancer.

Cancer.Net provides timely, comprehensive, oncologist-approved information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), with support from the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Cancer.Net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and those who care for and about them to help patients and families make informed health care decisions.